a transistor in active region when emitter junction is forward biased nd collector junction is reverse biased
The active region of a transistor is when the transistor has sufficient base current to turn the transistor on and for a larger current to flow from emitter to collector. This is the region where the transistor is on and fully operating.
For a transistor to be in active region : Base Emitter junction should be forward biased and Emitter collector junction should be reverse biased.
we will operate transistor mainly in 4 regions..namely active ,cutoff,saturation and pinch off region depending on the type of biasing. if it is under active region then transistor is a linear device.. linearity in the sense if the output is proportional to input then it is said to be linear.
The output current of a transistor is controlled by the current in the 'base' input: Increasing the control current will increase the output current in a more or less linear fashion. In the saturation region, this is no longer true: The transistor is nearing the limits of how much current it can conduct, so increasing the control current further has little or no effect. When using a transistor as an amplifier, you want to stay away from the saturation region as it would distort the signal you are amplifying. When using a transistor as an on/off switch, as in digital circuits, being in the saturated region is 'on' and a normal mode of operation.
The cutoff region is when the transistor doesn't have sufficient base current to drive a larger current from emitter to collector. Therefore, the transistor does not turn on and stays shut off.